It's one of the classic "hard to explain" Dutch words. Only the German "gemütlich" comes close.
The word contains "gezel", an old Dutch word for companion, which is where the [ multiple people ] qualification comes from. We also find it in "gezelschap", meaning "a group of people", and "metgezel", meaning "close companion".
But where those words only refer to the collective itself, "gezellig" indicates more than just being together. It encompasses a specific kind of uplifting atmosphere as well.
Like I mentioned before, there is an element of spontaneity. But more important is that everyone involved is either having a good time, or it can be expected that everyone involved will have a good time.
It usually implies an event that will bring people closer together. There are hints of an explicit freedom to be yourself (a temporary absence of social judgement) and the clear desire of everyone involved to sustain a good mood all around.
For those that are familiar with the concept, the casual playing of a board game usually qualifies as "gezellig" (unless very fanatical players are involved). A plan to go do something with one or more friends can be gezellig. A gathering that turns out to be a lot more jolly than expected is gezellig as well.
The word contains "gezel", an old Dutch word for companion, which is where the [ multiple people ] qualification comes from. We also find it in "gezelschap", meaning "a group of people", and "metgezel", meaning "close companion".
But where those words only refer to the collective itself, "gezellig" indicates more than just being together. It encompasses a specific kind of uplifting atmosphere as well.
Like I mentioned before, there is an element of spontaneity. But more important is that everyone involved is either having a good time, or it can be expected that everyone involved will have a good time.
It usually implies an event that will bring people closer together. There are hints of an explicit freedom to be yourself (a temporary absence of social judgement) and the clear desire of everyone involved to sustain a good mood all around.
For those that are familiar with the concept, the casual playing of a board game usually qualifies as "gezellig" (unless very fanatical players are involved). A plan to go do something with one or more friends can be gezellig. A gathering that turns out to be a lot more jolly than expected is gezellig as well.